Food Service Cabinet With Nanomaterial Coating

Abstract

A food service cabinet is provided with a coating having as an ingredient thereof a nanomaterial. The temperature and humidity of the interior of the food service cabinet can be controlled to keep food at a desired temperature and/or humidity. The coating may be Nansulate™, which includes Hydro-NM-Oxide as a nanomaterial. The coating is hydrophobic and provides thermal insulation, corrosion resistance and mold resistance. According to a method of manufacturing the cabinet having the nanomaterial coating, the coating may be applied by a brush, a roller or an airless sprayer at low pressure, in three coats, each coat being approximately 3-5 wet mils in thickness.

1 . A food service container comprising:
 a plurality of walls defining an enclosure having an interior and an exterior; and   a coating comprising a nanomaterial applied to at least a portion of said plurality of walls,   wherein said food service container is capable of at least one of (a) keeping food at a desired temperature and/or humidity and (b) preparing food under controlled conditions of temperature and/or humidity.   
   
   
       2 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling the temperature and/or humidity of the interior of the container. 
   
   
       3 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein said nanomaterial comprising said coating is Nansulate™. 
   
   
       4 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein said nanomaterial comprising said coating is Hydro-NM-Oxide. 
   
   
       5 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein said coating provides thermal insulation for the container. 
   
   
       6 . The food service container according to  claim 5 , wherein said coating has an R-value of at least approximately 10 ft 2 ·° F.·h/Btu. 
   
   
       7 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein said coating provides corrosion resistance for the container. 
   
   
       8 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of said walls has an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surfaces of at least a portion of said walls thereby defining the enclosure, and wherein said coating is adhered directly to the interior surface at least a portion of said plurality of walls. 
   
   
       9 . The food service container according to  claim 1 , wherein said coating is hydrophobic. 
   
   
       10 . A method of manufacturing an insulated food service container comprising the steps of:
 providing a container having a plurality of walls defining an enclosure having an interior and an exterior; and   applying a coating comprising a nanomaterial to at least a portion of said plurality of walls,   wherein the food service container is capable of at least one of (a) keeping food at a desired temperature and/or humidity, and (b) for preparing food under controlled conditions of temperature and/or humidity.   
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating by means of at least one of (a) a brush, (b) a roller, or (c) an airless sprayer at low pressure. 
   
   
       12 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying three coats of the nanomaterial, each coat being approximately 3-5 wet mils in thickness. 
   
   
       13 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating in the form of Nansulate™. 
   
   
       14 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the nanomaterial in the form of Hydro-NM-Oxide. 
   
   
       15 . A method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating in the form of thermal insulating nanomaterial. 
   
   
       16 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 15 , wherein the nanomaterial has an R-value of at least approximately 10 ft 2 ·° F.·h/Btu. 
   
   
       17 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating in the form of a corrosion resistant nanomaterial. 
   
   
       18 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of walls of the container has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces of at least a portion of said walls thereby defining the enclosure; and wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating to adhere directly to the interior surface of at least a portion of the walls. 
   
   
       19 . The method of manufacturing a food service container according to  claim 10 , wherein said applying step comprises applying the coating in the form of a hydrophobic nanomaterial.